Centrifugal air-compression system.



R. V. MORSE.

V CENTRFFUGAL AIR COMPRESSION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-13.1915.

Patent-ed Oct. 1, 1918..

fA/VE IR ROBERT V. MORSE, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK.

. CENTRIFUGAL AIR-COMPRESSION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (Dot. 1, 1918.

Application filed August 13, 1915. Serial No. 45,324.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT V. MORSE, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at which the following,

Ithaca, inthe county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Centrifugal Air-Compression System, of

taken with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates -to air-compressing apparatus of the type in which a pump is employed. for circulating water or other liquid, and air is introduced in the pump and compressed in the liquid, after which the compressed air is separated from the liquid. In Patent N 0. 1,134,215, for improvements in air-pumping apparatus, issued to me on April 6th, 1915, there was disclosed a means for increasing the efficiency of such a system by causing the water under pressure to operate a hydraulic motor which assisted in driving the pump or compressor. This invention relates particularly to a means for automatically regulating the flow of water in the system described in that patent; and to an improved means for introducing air into the liquid of such a system.

The objects of my invention are to make the system automatic in its operation, to increase its efiiciency, and to reduce the size of the driving engine or motor by protecting it against sudden overloads.

' In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating my improved centrifugal air compressing system; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the compressor shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is'a cross-section of a valve mechanism; Fig. 4

- shows a cross-section of a nozzle mechanism.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 represents the pump or compressor,preferably of the centrifugal type,-'which is driven by the electric motor or other source of power 2 through the shaft 3. The water intake'pipe 4 of the compressor 1 is provided with the check valve 5, and the water is drawn from the tank 6. The air intake pipe 7 for the. compressor 1 is provided with the check valve 8 and the throttle valve 9, and communicates with the hollow chamber 10 which surrounds the shaft 3, and within which the shaft is free to turn. The shaft 3 is preferably made hollow to provide the air intake passage 11 which communicates with the chamber 10.

The other end of the air intake passage 11,

as shown in Fig. 2, connects with air passages 12 in the hub of the impeller 13, which is keyed to the shaft 3. The air passages 12 lead out through'the hub 13 to the holes or orifices 14 in-the impeller blades 15, from whence the air can flow out and become thoroughly mixed with the water as it passes through the impeller or rotor of the compressor. The air holes 14 may be located at the extreme inner edge of the impeller blades 15 or at the extreme outer edge of the blades 15, or at any intermediate position as shown in Fig. 2,depending on the design of the impeller and the operating conditions. With the air holes 14 near the inner or intake portion of the impeller there will obviously be a good suction intake for the air; and this suction intake for the air may also be obtamed even with the air holes at the extreme outer or discharge portion of the impeller,

since with a properly designed impeller the hydraulic head at the impeller periphery may be largely in the kinetic form with the static pressure below atmospheric.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the discharge pipe 17 leads from the compressor 1 to the separating and storage tank 18, from which the compressed air may be drawn ofi? through the valve and pipe 19. The water under pressure returns from the tank 18 through the pipe 20 and nozzle 21 and gives up its energy to the impulse wheel or hydraulic motor 22 keyed to the compressor shaft 3, after which the water passes on to the sump or tank 23, which contains the intake water pipe of the compressor. The discharge of water from the nozzle 21 is controlled by the hydraulic cylinder 25, operating the piston 26 and the piston-rod 27 which'controls the needle valve in the nozzle. The cylinder 25 receives its hydraulic pressure through the pipes 30 and 81, connected with the valve chest 32, which is in turn connected through the pipe 33 with the water under pressure in the storage tank 18. The exhaust from the valve chest 32 is returned to the sump or tank 23 by means of the pipe 35.

The value chest 32 contains an ordinary slide valve or other suitable valve operated by the valve rod 36, which is connected to the floating-link 37. One end of the link 37 is connected to the piston rod 27 and the other end is connected with the rod 39 which is operated by the float 40 or any other suitable means in the tank 18 susceptible to changes in the water lever.

In the valve mechanism illustrated by way of example in Fig. 3, the rod 36 carries two pistons -11 and 12, Operating in the cylinder 13. The pipe 33 from the pressure tank 18 (Fig. 1) connects with the part of the cylinder 13 lying between the two pistons 41 and 42. The pipes 30 and 31 conthe cylinder 43 through ports which may be closed by the pistons 41 and 12 respectively as shown. The upper and lower ends of the cylinder 13 are connected by the passages 44 and 15 to the exhaust pipe 35. When the piston rod 36 is moved upward, the upper piston 11 uncovers the port leading to the pipe 30, thus allowing the water under pressure to flow from the pipe 33 to the pipe 30; while at the same time the piston t2 moving upward opens communication between the pipe 31 and the passage +15 leading to the exhaust pipe 35. In a similar manner, when the piston rod 36 is moved downward, the lower pipe 31 receives water under pressure from the pipe 33, while the upper pipe 30 exhausts through the passage 11 to the exhaust pipe 35. In the nozzle 21 illustrated in Fig. 41, the valve 16 is connected by the stem 17 with the rod 27. \Vhen the rod 27 is moved downward. the nozzle valve is opened; and it is closed by moving upward. It should not be understood that the particular type of nozzle and valve shown are essential, as it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any ordinary type of valve or nozzle may be adapted through suitable linkages to operate in the system.

The operation is as follows: In startin the valves in the chest 32 may be operated temporarily to admit the liquid under pres sure through the pipes 33 and 31 to the under side of the piston 26 in the cylinder 25, thus opening the nozzle 21 and starting the impulse wheel 22. The motor 2, which may be started at the same time or shortly thereafter, is thus aided by a powerful torque at starting and the com )ressor may be quickly brought up to spee without danger of overlotading the motor 2, or the power line. Assuming the compressor 1 has been brought up to its normal running speed. the operation is as follows; the water is drawn up from the tank 6 through the pipe 4 to the compressor 1, and at the same time nect with the air is drawn in through the pipe 7 and passage 11 and mixes with the water at the impeller blades 15. The resultant mixture or foam passes from the compressor 1 through the discharge pipe 17 to the pressure tank 18, where the air separates from the water and is stored in the upper part of the tank 18 and drawn off as compressed air for use as desired. The water, now separated from the air, returns through the pipe 20 and is discharged from the nozzle 21 into the hydraulic motor or impulse wheel 22 which aids the motor 2 in driving the compressor. After the energy stored in the water has thus been extracted, the water may be allowed to flow back to the sump or tank 23.

The water in the pressure tank 18 must of course be maintained at a fairly constant level, since otherwise air might escape from the pipe 20 or water from the pipe 19. But it is also highly important that the power delivered by the impulse wheel 22 be substantially uniform; for if the discharge from the nozzle 21 should be substantially shut ofl when the water in the tank 18 falls to a certain level, the driving motor 2 would be exposed to a heavy overload. Conversely, if the nozzle were opened too wide when the water reached a higher level, the load would' practically all fall on the hydraulic motor 22. Such a fluctuating load would require a much larger driving motor 2 than would otherwise be necessary, and would also be very detrimental to the efficient operation of an electric driving motor. Therefore the device controlling the discharge to the hydraulic motor 22 should operate gradually through fine gradations and be capable of assuming a large number of different operating positions, so that the device may seek such a position as will maintain the system in substantial equilibrium.

Such a device is illustrated by way of example by the link mechanism shown as operating the valve rod 36. One end of the link 37 is connected to the piston rod 27, and so 'moves up and down as the nozzle at the impulse wheel 22 is opened and closed. The other end of the. link 37 is connected to the rod 39 which is moved up and down by the float $0 in the tank 18, so that the position of that end of the link 37 will depend upon the height of the water in the tank 18. Assume the valve in to be opened as the rod 27 is moved down and to be closed according as the rod 27 is moved up. Then when the water in the tank 18 goes to a slightly higher level the right hand end or" the link 37 will be slightly raised. This will slightly raise the valve rod 36, which is pivoted at an intermediate point on the link 37, and water under pressure will flow from the tank 18 and pipes 33 and 30 to the upper part of the cylinder 25, while the water will flow from the lower part of the cylinder 25 by Way of the pipes 35 and 31. The piston 26 and piston rod 27 will accordingly move downward opening the valve in the nozzle 21, causing the left hand end of the link 37 to sink and restoring the valve rod 36 to its original position so as to cut ofi the flow of water through the valve chest 32. The same process will the nozzle 21 j violent fluctuations at the power input of the hydraulicmotor are prevented, and the initialcost and running. expense of the system. are reduced. The precise control mechanism here illustrated need not necessarily be-used,but it may be adapted and modified to suit theconditions of installation,- the essential feature being that it be gradual yet positive in its operation, as regards the fiowto thehydraulic motor,

While .I have described certain specific embodiments of my invention, for the purposes of illustration, yet various modifications and adaptations will be evident to those skilled in the art; and my invention should; be. understood as covering all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended. claims. i

1. In an air compression system, the com bination of a compressor adapted to compress a mixture of air and liquid, an air intake for the compressor, a liquid intake for the compressor, means for separating the compressed air from the liquid, a source of power for driving the ccznpressor, a motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting the source of power in driving the compressor, and automatic means for regulating the flow of the liquid under pressure to the motor means.

2. In an air compression system, the combination of a compressor, a source of power for driving the compressor, an air intake for the compressor, a liquid intake for the compressor, a rotor in the compressor adapted to mix the air and the liquid, means for separating the compressed air from the liquid, motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting the source of power in driving the compressor, and automatic means for regulating the flow of the liquid under pressure to the motor means.

3. In an air compression system, the combination of a compressor, a source of power for driving the compressor, an air intake for the compressor, a liquid intake for the compressor, a separating tank for the compressed air and liquid, motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air in the tank for assisting in driving the compressor, and automatic means for regulating the flow of the liquid under pressure from the tank to the motor means. said automatic means having a large number of ditferent operating positions.

4:. In anair compression system, the com bination of a rotary compressor having a the tank to the motor means, said automatic means belng arranged to operate gradually through a large number of different operating positions so as to prevent sudden fluctuations in. the load "on the main source of power 5. In an air compression system, the combination of a centrifugalcompressor havin an impeller and a hollow shaft, a source 0 power for driving the compressor, a liquid intake, an air intake communicating with the hollow shaft and with the impeller, the impeller having passages from which the air is introduced into the liquid, a separating and storage tank connected to the discharge of the compressor, an impulse wheel operated by the liquid under pressure from the tank for assisting in driving the compressor, and automatic means for regulating the flow of liquid under pressure from the tank to the impulse wheel.

6. In an air compression system, the combination of a centrifugal compressor having an impeller and a hollow shaft, a source of power for driving the compressor, a liquid intake, an air intake communicating with the hollow shaft and with the impeller, the impeller having passages from which the air is introduced into the liquid, a separating and storage tank connected to the discharge of the compressor, and an impulse Wheel operated by the liquid under pressure from the tank for assisting in driving the compressor.

7 In an air compression system, the com-.

binat-ion'of a rotary compressor adapted to compress a mixture of air and liquid, means for separating the compressed air from the liquid, motor means operated by the the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting in driving the compressor, and automatic means for maintaining a substantially steady fiow of power from said motor means.

8. In an air compression system, the combination of a rotary compressor adapted to compress a mixture of air and liquid, a tank for separating the compressed air from the liquid. motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting in driving the compressor, and automatic means for controlling the flow of liquid to the motor means, said automatic for separating the.compressed air from the liquid, motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting in driving the compressor a nozzle valve controlling the flow of liquid to the motor means, mechanism energized by liquid under pressure from the tank for operating the nozzle valve, and automatic means for controlling said mechanism.

10. In an air compression system the combination of a rotary compressor adapted to compress a mixture of air and liquid, a tank for separating the compressed air from the liquid, motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting in driving the compressor, a nozzle valve controlling the fiow of liquid to the motor means, a hydraulic piston controlling the nozzle valve, a float in the tank, and a valve mechanism operated both bv the' float and the piston for controlling the position bination of a centrifugal compressor, a l1q- 111d intake, an air inta e, a hollow shaft for the compressor communicating with the air intake, an impeller in the compressor mounted on said shaft, outlets for the air in the impeller arranged so that the air may be drawn in through the hollow shaft and mixed with the liquid, a throttle valve in the air intake, means for separating the compressed air from the liquid, and motor means operated by the liquid under pressure from the compressed air for assisting in driving the compressor..

12. In a centrifugal air compressor, the combination of an air intake, a liquid intake, a hollow shaft communicating with the air intake, an impeller having passages communicating with the hollow shaft, the passages being adapted to admit air into the liquid as it passes through the impeller, whereby air and liquid enter. the impeller separately and aredischarged as a mixture.

ROBERT V. MORSE. 

